Apparatus for the production of sound-record tablets and tablets made thereby



W. W. MCWILLIAMS APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SOUND RECORD TABLETS AND TABLETS MADE THEREBY Filed Feb.. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTR ATTORNEY Mar. 3, 1925. 1 1,528,121

W. W.- MCWILLIAMS v APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTIONl 0F .SOUND RECORD TABLETS AND TABLETS MADE THEREBY Filed Feb. 5, 1925 D 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 TORNEY CII Patented Mar. 3, 1925,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. McwILLIAivIs, OE EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, RY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOTHOMAS A. EDISON JERSEY, A CORPORATION OE NEW JERSEY.

INCORPORATED, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW

APPARATUS EOR THE PRODUCTION OE SOUND-RECORD TAELETs AND vTARLETS MADE THEREBY.

Application mea February 5, 1523. seria1 No. 616,935.

To. all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, 'WILLIAM IV. Mow IVILLIAMS, a citizen of the vUnited States, and a resident of East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of. Sound-Record Tablets and Tablets Made Thereby, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to sound record tablets and especially to cylindrical sound record tablets or blanks designed for use on business phonographs orf dictating machines. My invention also relates to an improved apparatus. Y l

y In some aspects my invention is an improvement on the invention described and claimed in Patent No. 1,323,197, grantedv to me November 25, 1919. c. Y

One of the objects of my invention is to produce an improved form of hollow cylindrical sound reco-rd tablet or blank, especially of the type designedfor use with business phonographs, having suitable wording or characters, identifying or descriptive of or otherwise relating to the tablet, so applied thereto that the same will be protected against defacement or damage and will not be obliterated or out away in the repeated shaving operations to which such tablets are usually subjected. v

Further objects of my invention reside in an improved molding apparatus for producing sound record tablets or blanks, especially those made of waXor wax-like: material and of the type described in my Patent N o. 1,- 323,197 referred to above, whereby such tablets may be made, preferably mechanically, more economically, at a greater rate and of a more uniform character than those produced by the methods and apparatus now commonly employed.4 y

Other objects and features of my invention will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be more clearly understood, attention 'is directed to the drawings Y accompanying and forming part of the speciiicatio-n, and in which,-

Figure 1 is al central sectional view, partly in elevation, illustrating one of the molding devices of myv improved apparatus and a sound record tablet or blank cast or ii'iolded therein and with the parts of the molding device in normal position; y

Figure 2 is a view similar to F iguiel showing the molded or cast tablet partially ejected from the mold;

Figure 8 is a view similar to 1*"ig`urev 1 showing the cast or molded tablet fully ejectedfrom the mold;

Figure 4 is an end view ofthe finished record tablet; and n Figure 5 is a fragmental sectional view, partly in elevation vand partly diagrammatic, of my improved molding apparatus illustrating one of the steps in the method of producing sound record tablets by the use of. such apparatus. y Y

lReferring to the drawing, each of the molding devices of my improved molding apparatus comprises a tubular cylindrical mold ,1, having a smooth cylindrical bore and preferably formed of bronze, removably secured at itsY lower end` to a base member 2 as by being threaded on a reduced cylindrical extension thereof. The molding device is secured to a suitable support, for example, to an annular table T, as by means of a bracket 3 which is preferably formed .integrally withv the base member 2. Where the annular support or table T is employed, molding devices similar to the one illustrated are preferably mounted in spaced relationl about the entire periphery of the table, and the latter is preferably mounted to rotate about a fixed axis so that the molding devices carried thereby may be successively moved to filling and ejecting positions and through a zone atroom temperature and a cooling Zone, as will presently appear. The' table T may be supported onv suitable standards (not shown) carried by the floor or like support 5, and together with the molding devices is almost entirely enclosed in a casing 6 formed of sheet metal or the like.

The base member 2 o-f each molding device is provided with a central cylindrical opening 7 within whichis rigidly secured, as by means of a driving iit, a hollow cylindrical or tubular supporting member 8 extending upwardly into the mold 1 and axially thereof. A stepped core 9 is slidably mounted on the supporting member 8, said core having a cylindrical bore with which the member S has a loose fit. The 'upper end of the supporting member 8 is somewhat below the top of the mold 1, and the core 9 when in its normal or lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 1, is supported by the member 8 by the engagement of the said upper end of the latter with a shoulder 10 formed on the bore of the core. At its lower end the core 9 is removably secured, as by a threaded connection, to ay sleeeve 11 which is slidably mounted on and has a loose lit with the supporting member 8. A horizontal pin 12 is secured in the sleeve 11 and extends through diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots 13 (only one of which is shown), which are formed in the supporting member 8 and terminate short of the ends thereof. lNithin the mold 1 and normally resting on the base member 2 below the core 9, is a cylindrical cup-shaped bottom or closure member 14. The bottom 15 of the closure member 111 is provided with a central opening through which the supporting member 8 extends with a loose sliding lit. The member 14T has a lose sliding tit with the bore of the mold 1, and also on the inside thereof it has a loose sliding tit with the sleeve 11 and the lower end portion of the core 9. ln this connecy tion, it may be noted that the outer surfaces ofthe sleeve 11 and of the lower end portion of the core 9 are flush. At its upper end the member 14 is provided with an annular molding surface 16 for forming one end of a sound record tablet or blank, such as indi4 cated at A, cast in the mold. Disposed between the bottom 15 of the closure member 111 and the sleeve 11 and surrounding the supporting member 8 and a lower reduced extension 17 of thev sleeve 11, is a heavy coil spring 1S. A horizontal bar or pin 19, rectangular in cross-section, is secured to the bottom 15 of the closure member 1st and ei:- tends across the central opening in said bottom and through 'the slots 13 in the supporting member 8. The core 9 is circular in cross-section and preferably stepped from its lower end to a point adjacent its upper end by forming the exterior of the same with a series of substantially cylindrical stepped portions, the diameters of which decrease from the lower to the upper end of the series. Because of the provision of the stepped core 9 a record tablet A cast or molded in the molding device shown, may be sep arated from the mold and from the core by straight line movements. Such a record tablet when roamed out will have a bore simila to that of the record tablet shown and described in my prior patent referred to above. The core 9 is provided with a cylindrical upper end portion 20 of reduced diameter whereby a shoulder 21 is formed on the core at the lower end of such portion. rEhe shoulder 21 will be slightly below the top of the mold 1, when the parts of the molding device are in normal position, as shown in Fig. 1. Removably mounted on and having a loose sliding lit with the reduced upper end portion 2O of the coreV 9 is a tubular mold cap 22. The moldcap 22 is provided at its lower end with a flange having a substantially flat annular upper surface 241, au outer very narrow cylindrical surface portion 25, and, on its under side, with an annular bevelled molding surface 26 which intercepts and inclines up Yardly and outwardly from the flat annular end surface 27 of the cap. The end surface of the cap 22 is of substantially the same width as the shoulder 21 on the core 9 and is adapted to engage the same to thereby support the cap from the core. The flange 23 is spaced from the bore of the mold 1 so as to permit the mold to be readily iillczl with the molten wai: or wax-like n'iaterial from which the sound record tablets are molded. Vhe annular bevelled molding surface 26 of the cap Q2 is proifided with wording` or other characters in negative identifying or descriptive of, or otherwise relating to the tablets or blanks to be cast and which, in the operation of molding or casting such a blank, are molded into an end surface portion of the latter. For a purpose which will presently appear, the mold-cap 22 is formed of metal such as tin capable of absorbing and radiating heat at a high rate. A horizontal pin 2S is secured to the moldcap 22 adjacent its upper end, and extends diametrically of the opening therethrough. When the mold-cap is mounted in operative position on the reduced upper end portion of the core 9, as shown in Fig. 1, the pin 28 engages opposed slots 29 formed in said end portion and prevents relative turning movement of the mold-cap 22 and the core, both when the cap is in operativc position and during removal thereof from the core. The mold-cap 2:2 is also provided with an annular flange 39 at its upper end for facilitating the removal of the moldcap from the core 9 prior to the operation of ejecting a blank or tablet from the mold 1.

t will be apparent that in the molding device described, the core 9, together with the sleeve 11, and also the bott-om or closure member 1st, are movable relatively to the mold 1 axially thereof. The bottom or closure member 14: is also movable within the mold 1 and axially thereof relatively to the core 9 and the sleeve 11. The resilient means comprising the coil spring 18, between the sleeve 11 and bottom or closure member 141,. however, is of sufficient strength so that when, with a cast or molded tablet A in the mold 1, the bottom or closure member 14 is moved upwardly in the mold from the positill tion shown in Fig. 1 as by applying upward pressure to the-bar 19. such movement. will be imparted to the sleeve 11 and core 9 through the spring. The core member 9 and its sleeve 11 and also the tablet A will accordingly then move upwardly with reference to the mold 1 with the bottom or closure member 14, until the pin 12 engages the upper end of the lslots 13 of the supporting member 8. The tablet or blank A will thus be separated and partially ejected from the mold 1 and the parts will be in the position shown in Fig. 2. The engagement of the pin 12 with the upper ends of the slots 13 will, of course, prevent further upward movement of the core 9 and sleeve 1l; but if the application of upward pressure to bar 19 is continued, the member 14 will be moved upwardly stillv further with respect to the mold 1 and also with respect to the core 9, against the action of the coil spring 18, to the position shown in Fig. 3. This further movement of the bottom or closure member 14 vwill result in separating the record tablet or blank A from the core 9 and wholly ejecting such blank from the mold 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. lt is clear from the above, that the core member 9 and the sleeve 11 to which it is secured, togethierwith the bottom or closure member 14, constitute means which is movable as aA whole relatively to mold 1 and axially thereof, and that the bottom or closure member 14 is also movable axially of the. mold and relatively to the core member.

In casting or molding a record tablet or blank in the molding device described, the mold 1, with the parts of the molding device in normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, is first completely filled with molten rwaklike or other material from which the blank is to be cast, by pouring such 'material into the top of the mold. The molding device with the record materia-l therein is now allowed to cool at ordinary o-r room temperature until such material reaches a semi-liquid state, this for the purpose of allowing such material to sett-le and air which may be present therein to rise and escape. The provision of the mold-cap 20, at its lower end, with the upwardly inclined beveled surface 26, facilitates the escape of the air and prevents the same being entrapped below the flange A cooling medium is now applied to the outside of the mold 1 and to the ,inside of the core 9, preferably by forcing currents of cooling` fluid, referably air, past the outside of the mold and through the tubular supporting member 8 and the hollow core 9 until the blank or tablet A sets or hardens sufficiently. The currents of air or other cooling fluid, of course, greatly hasten the setting or hardening of the record material.

During'the congealing or setting o-f the record material, especially where wax or wax-like material is employed, the same rapidly contracts and results in an annular cavity ortrough being formed in the upper end portion of the molded material, as shown in Fig. 1. Moreover, air pockets are likely to be formed in the upper end portion of the blank. no longer-sticky, that is shortly before the blank becomes sufficiently set to eject or eX- tract the same, the end portion thereof above the point indicated by the dotted line 36 in Fig. 1, is cut off or removed. The removal of this upper end portion by Vine-ans of a knife or other implement is facilitated by the provision of the flange 2 3 at the lowei1 end of the mold-cap 22, as the upper annular surface 24 of this flange serves as a guide for such knife` 0r implement. The mold-cap 22 is now removed and the molded tablet A is separated from the mold 1 and the core 9 by successive straight line movements and Vfully ejected from the mold yin the manner described above, and preferably byv means of a rod 40, which may be termed the ejector' rod, which is moved upwardly into the tubular supporting member 8 and againstfthe vbar 19 fronitlie position shown in Fig. 1

and to lthe position shown in Fig. 3. The ejector rod may be operated either manually or mechanically, preferably the latter. Upon the return of the ejector bar 40v to its lower position, shown in Fig. 1, the movable parts of the molding device will return to normal position under the action of gravity. The

. bore of therecord tablet or blank A is now reamed out, and the fiat outerf annular surface portion of the thicker end of the blank is turned off to produce a smooth finished surface v41 meeting the outer end of the inner annular bevelled surface portion 42 thereof. This bevelled surface vportion 42, formed by the annular surface 26 of the mold-cap 22, has molded therein the word- .ing or other characters indicated by reference characters 43. The outer cylindrical surface ofthe record blank is alsolinished.y as by subjecting Ythe same to a rough and then a smooth cut. y

lVher'e a vplurality of molding devices, suoli as described, are supported on an annular support such as the table Tshown inY Fig. A5, this table, as liereinbefore stated, is almost entirely enclosed by a sheet metal casing 6. This casingis provided in the top thereof, and preferably centrally thereof, with an opening 50 through which cooling fluid such as air may be forced into the casing as by means vof a. fan or blower-ll. The casing 6 is provided with an outer upwardly extending peripheral portion open at the top and substantially enclosing the molding devices by means of spaced eXtensioiis 51. The extensions 51 of the casing 6 terminate at their upper ends substantially on a level with the upper end ofthe molds When the blank is still soft but of the molding devices and are preferably and due to the air currents impinging on spaced substantially equidistant from such molds. As indicated above, the support or table T is preferably mounted for rotary movement. Suitable motive means (not shown) may be and preferably is provided for imparting to the table T and the molding devices carried thereby, a step-by-step rotary movement to successively bring'each of the molding devices into filling postion, through a Zone or space at room tempert ture, through a. cooling zone and then to ejecting position. The zone or space at room temepraturc is provided adjacent the point where the molds are filled, as by interrupting the casing (i or forming the saine with a cut-away portion or segment of such `xte-ntthat the molding devices in being moved through such cut-away portion from filling position will be exposed therein to room temperature, at the rate at which the table is rotated., for a period of time just sufficient to allow the molten record material therein to reach a semi-liquid stage. As explained above, during this period the record material will settle and any air therein will rise and escape. From the Zone at room temperature the molding devices move into the cooling zone formed by the casing 6 where they are subjected to the currents of air forced into the casing by the blower B and escaping from thel open upper end of the outer portion of the casing formed by the spaced extensions 5l. These currents of air pass through the casing substantially as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5; it being noted that such currents of air are forced upwardly both past the outside of the mold l and through the tubular supporting member 8 and the core 9 of each molding device. To facilitate the passage of the air past the molding devices, the base member Q of each Yof the latter is provided with a conical downwardly inclined outer surface, and such member is joined to its supporting bracket 3 by a. thin web 60. The parts of the molding devices are so proportioned as to be what may be termed heat balanced, so that when such a device is subjected to currents of air in the manner shown and described, heat will be abstracted from the outer and inner portions thereof by the air at such rates as to effect substantially uniform congealing or setting of the record material from the outer and inner surfaces of the body thereof towards a conical surface constituting the locus of the points midway between such outer and inner surfaces. This results in the production of tablets or blanks of very uniform quality and strength. In this connection, the use of the tubular mold-cap 22 formed of tin or other metal capable of absorbing and radiating heat at a very high rate is important as such a cap absorbs heat very rapidly from the core 9 the outer surface thereof; as indicated, this heat is very rapidly dissipated or radiated.

By the method described, l am not only able to produce sound record tablets or blanks which are very uniform in quality and strength, but l am also enabled, because of the cooling operation described, to produce them much more rapidly than is possible by the methods now employed of producing blanks of the type employed 'for business phonographs. For example, in the usual methods of molding sound record blanks for business phonographs, it takes anywhere from l2 to l5 minutes for such tablets or blanks to harden or set suiiiciently to extract the same; whereas with my improved method this requires only about to 6 minutes. The speed of rotation of the table T is preferably so timed that when the record material in any of the molding devices has set or hardened sufficient-ly, such device will then be in ejecting or extracting position directly over the ejecting member or rod 40. This rod may be and preferably is connected to the means for driving the table T so that as cach molding device is brought to ejecting position, it will be automatically moved upwardly into the tubular supporting member 8 of such molding device to eject the blank or tablet A therefrom, in the manner describe-d above, and then returned to its lower position. lfhere the support or table T for the molding devices is stationary or manually rotatable, care should be taken after filling a molding device or devices with record material, not to subject such device or devices to the cooling step until the record material has reached the semi-liquid state. rThis may be accomplished, in an arrangement. such as shown, by starting and stopping the fan or blower B at the proper times.

lhile I have described my invention, particularly in connection with the production of record tablets or blanks formed of wax or wax-like material, it is to be understood that some of the features thereof are also applicable to the production of other types of cylindrical record tablets, as, for example, those comprising a thin outer tube of Celluloid and a comparatively thick backing` of plaster of Paris or other material. lt is also to be understood that both the method and apparatus specifically described herein are subject to various changes and modifications without any departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect bv Letters Patent is as follows:

l. A. hollow cylindrical sound record tablet having the inner annular portion of one end surface thereof bevelled and inclined Y inwardly with respectto the corresponding end of the tablet, said inner bevelled portion being provided with .vording or characters, substantially as described. f

2. A hollow cylindrical sound record tablet having an end surface con'iprisinfo an outer annular portion and a bevelled inner annular portion inclined inwardly with respect to t-he corresponding end of the tablet and intersecting the bore thereof, said inner per-- tion being provided with wording or characters, substantially as described.

3. In apparatus for molding sound record tablets, a tubular mold, a core within said mold, and a mold-cap supported solely on the upper end portion of said core and having its outer periphery spaced from the bore of thefmold, substantially as described.

4l. In apparatus for molding sound recoid tablets, a tubular mold, a core within said mold, a mold-cap removably supported on the upper end portion of said core and havingfits outer periphery spaced from the bore of the mold, and means for rneventinfY relative turning movement of said core and mold-cap, substantially as described.. l

5. In apparatus for molding sound record tablets, a tubular mold, a core within said mold, a mold-cap supported on the upper end portion of said core and provided with a flange the outer periphery of which is spaced from the bore of the mold, said flange having an annular molding surface, and means for preventing relative turning movement of said core and mold-cap, substantially as described.

6. A mold-cap forV sound record tablet molding apparatus, having a bevelled annular molding surface provided with wording 0r characters in negative, substantially as described.

7. A tubular mold-cap for sound recordy tablet molding apparatus, provided 'at one end with an annular molding surface and formed of a metal such as tin capable of absorbing and radiating heat at a high rate, substantially as described.

8. A tubular mold-cap for sound record tablet molding apparatus, provided at one end with a substantially flat annular surface portion intercepting the bore of the cap and an annular bevelled molding surface portion outwardly 'of said flat annular portion, substantially as described.

9. A tubular mold-cap for sound record tablet molding apparatus, provided with an outwardly extending flange at the lower end thereof, the lowerV side of said flange being provided with an annular bevelled molding surface, substantially as described.

10. A tubular mold-cap for sound record tablet molding apparatus, provided at its lower end with an inner substantially flat annular surface portion, an intermediate annular bevelled molding surface portion andan outer substantially cylindrical surface portion, substantially vas described.

11. A tubular mold-cap for sound record tablet molding apparatus, provided with a flange at each end, the flange -fat the lower end ofthe mold-cap being provided on its under surface with an annular bevelled molding surface, substantially as described.

12. The combination of a tubular mold, a core within the mold and a tubular moldcap removably mounted on the upper end portion/of the core, said mold-cap being spaced from the bore of said mold, substantially las described.

13. The combination of a tubular mold, acore circular in cross-section disposed within the mold, said core being provided with a shoulder adjacent its upper end, a tubular mold-cap removably mounted on the upper end portion of the core and supported on said shoulder, said mold-cap being spaced from the bore of said mold, and means to prevent relative turning move- -ment of the core and mold-cap, substantially as described.`

14. In apparatus for molding sound record tablets, a tubular mold, and `a device within said mold'comprising a core and a bottom or closure member, said device and mold being relatively movable axially of the mold and said core and bottom member being relatively movable axially of the core, substantially as described.

15. In apparatus for molding sound record tablets, a tubular mold, and a device within the mold movable axially thereof, said device comprising a core and a bottom or closure member having means for forming one end of a tablet cast in the mold, said core and bottom member being relatively movable axially of the core, substantially as described.

16. In apparatus for molding sound record tablets, a tubular mold, a bottom or olosure member within said mold movable axially thereof, said bottom member having means for forming an end of a tablet cast in the mold, a core disposed within said mold and movable axially thereof, said core and bottom members being relatively movable, and resilient means between said core and bottom member, substantially as described.

17. In apparatus for molding sound record tablets, a tubular mold, means within the mold movable axially thereof, comprising relatively movable core and bottom members, and means for first producing movement of said core and bottom members axially of the mold and then movement of oneof said members relative to the other of said members, substantially as'described.

18. In apparatus for molding sound record tablets, a tubular mold, and means withi l in said mold comprising a core-member and a member having an annular end molding surface, said core member and mold being relatively movable axially of the mold, and one of said members being movable relatively to the other member axially of the mold, substantially as described.

19. ln apparatus for molding sound record tablets, a tubular mold, a core within the mold and movable with respect thereto, and a bottom or closure member for the mold movable with respect to the mold and core7 substantially as described.

20. In apparatus for molding sound 'rec- 0rd tablets. a tubular mold9 a core within the mold movable axially thereof, a bottom or closure member for the mold movable axially of the mold with respect to 'the mold and core, and means for iirst producing` movement of said core and bottom member axially of the mold and tnen movement of said bottom member with respect to said core, substantially as described.

2l. In apparatus for molding` sound reeord tabletsj a tubular mold, a supporting member disposed within the mold axially thereof, a hollow Core mounted on said supporting member tor movementthereon7 a bottom or closure member within the mold below said core and movable axially of the mold, and means Yfer limiting upward movement of said core, substantially as described.

22. ln apparatus for molding sound record tablets5 a tubular mold, a supporting member disposed within the mold axially thereof, a hollow core mounted on said supporting` member Jfor limited movement there on, a bottom or closure member within the mold below said core and movable axially of the mold, and resilient means disposed between said core and bottom or closure inember, substantially as described.

223. ln apparatus for molding sound reoord tabletsE a tubular mold, a supporting member disposed within said mold, a hollow core mounted on said supporting member for movement thereon axially of the mold, said core being normally supported by said member, said member and core having Coacting` means for limiting` the upward movement of said core, a bottom or closure member mounted in said mold below the core for movement axially of the mold, and resilient means between said bottom or closure member and said core, substantially as described.

This specification signed this 1st day ol Feby., 1923.

lVlLLlAM W. MCVILLIAMS. 

